Prison Project Update

Now that I've brought back all the cats trapped to date (except the ones being spayed/neutered today), the inmates really trust me and catch more cats than I do.  :-)

We trapped two more cats last week and two more over the weekend.  Actually, I should say the inmates caught two cats for me Wednesday because the cats weren't responding to the yummy food in the traps.  The inmates were able to pick up a few more of the cats with my heavy animal control gloves and put the cas into the traps.  So Max and Runt (Runt is a little black lady - maybe 7 months old -- with beautiful green eyes) were spayed/neutered last week. 

Last night I had a trapping partner (other than the inmates who always help).  Katie is doing a senior project on feral cats; she is rabies vaccinated, volunteers at Operation Catnip, and is now getting experience doing the actual T part of TNR.  Good thing because we broke out the drop trap and while some very talented people may be able to do it by themselves, I find it  much easier with two people (after the cat is actually trapped).

A few of the cats like Smokey and what I'm sure is the mama to the gray babies (two still to catch) seem to be very trap savvy so I brought my fabulous folding drop trap purchased from HubCats Boston.  And I broke out the good stuff - people food (KFC worked last weekend to catch the kittens).  First, I drove by KFC to buy some chicken to take off the bone because kitties love KFC.  Imagine my surprise when they tell me it will be 15 minutes for original recipe and 10 for extra crispy.  Seriously?  I mean really - that is all you make - chicken - how can you be out?!  So I stop at JJ's Fish and Chicken on the way to the prison and buy a combo plate of fish and shrimp to entice the cats. (Dear IRS - can I put all this on my taxes? I'm spending a fortune in people food trapping cats, but will you decide to audit me if you see KFC and JJ's Fish and Chicken on my taxes? It's not for me, I don't like fish and I can't stand KFC, it really is for TNR projects.) 

Set up the drop trap and put some shrimp and fish under it and BAM - less than five minutes, Smokey was under the drop trap and after we drop it, he's trying to levitate enough to lift it (hah, I have weights on the back, buddy boy).  Run to cover the trap, some of the inmates help hold it down while Katie and I work to get him from the drop trap to the humane trap.  Success! 

We then move the drop trap to another location near where the mama and babies have been sighted and also set up some humane traps along the perimeter.  After about 40 minutes or so of that, we decide to set up outside the back gate where we have seen her cross over to other state property.  It's dark and it's hard to see when a black cat is under a drop trap but Katie has better eyesight than I do and told me when a cat was under and to pull and drop the trap, and we did and caught her.  So it is dark and we're not quite sure it's the mama, but we're hoping.  The kittens are old enough to take care of themselves so I put food and water under the trailer.  If this is the mama, I'm going to hold onto her for just a bit longer than usual in hopes that it will help us get the kittens a little easier -- without mama telling them "no, that trap is bad, don't go in there". 

And with Smokey caught, that is allegedly the last cat inside the cats that needs to be TNR'd (I asked the inmates and guards to be on the lookout for cats without cropped ears and if seen, have the guards call me to let me know). 

So, unless there are more seen inside the gates without cropped ears, we'll turn our attention to outside the gates (front, back, side, basically all around it where ever we are allowed to go) and try to get the rest.  Although we have no idea how many there are.

So we've trapped 12 feral adults (6 males and6 females) and taken in (to our adoption program) 1 friendly adult and 12 kittens so far from the prison.  

Seven of the kittens were born inside the gates and had interaction with the inmates from almost the time they were born so they were super friendly from the minute we took them in.  The other five kittens (and 2 still to catch) were born outside the gates, meaning no interaction and they are a challenge.  I've split them into two cages (3 in one cage, 2 in the other), but Alcatraz is one of the 3 in a cage and will be moved tonight to a cage by himself - sadly.  Sing-Sing and Rikers are in the cage with Alcatraz and while they don't like attention yet, they don't try to attack me.  I actually have to put on goggles to stick my head into the cage with Alcatraz -- he was the hardest to trap and he may be the most challenging to come around, but he might surprise me.  I don't want him hindering the taming of Sing-Sing and Rikers so he'll be by himself and I'll work with him seperately.  Sing-Sing and Rikers (caged together) and Folsom and Attica (caged together) hiss and spit and try to get away but don't seen totally adverse to being petted.  They might not enjoy it yet, but they don't threaten my life when I open the cage.  :-)  I'm going to start with turkey baby food on my fingers with them tonight and see how they react.  Alcatraz gets turkey baby food on a very long spoon or I might lose a finger).

I have faith these babies will all come around and be adoptable sweethearts, it just might take a while.  Once I get them to where they are doing really well, I'll try to play musical foster homes so they don't just socialize to me. 

June: National Adopt a (Shelter) Cat Month

Consider adopting an adult cat: adult cats are just as wonderful as kittens and won't keep you awake at night playing soccer on your forehead!

In celebration of the American Humane's national Adopt a Cat Month and the ASPCA's Adopt a Shelter Cat Month, Alley Cats and Angels has sponsorships to encourage the adoption of adult cats. These sponsorships allow us to offer a special adoption fee of $50 for all adult cats (cats over the age of 1 year) adopted during the month of June.

All cats have received wellness exams, are spayed/neutered, tested for FeLV/FIV, fully vaccinated (FVRCP/FeLV initial vaccination and booster, and rabies vaccinated), treated for intestinal parasites/ear mites/fleas, and microchipped.

Check out "Kitten Alley"

We've started a seperate Facebook page for all the kittens.  We only have some of them up so far, but working on getting all the rest up.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/pages/Kitten-Alley/127004140662250

Meet the first set of prison kittens

These set of five kittens were born to a friendly mama at the correctional facility.  The mama is also now in our adoption program, and we'll get a picture of her up soon too.  These babies were named after the 1980's cartoon, Thundercats.  These sweet babies wil be available for adoption the first week in July.  Meet the Thundercats:

Lion-O: DSH Orange Tabby with cream colored fur that lines his eyes. He is the ringleader of the Thundercats but is a very playful little guy with a gentle little soul. He is the first to come running at any cry to see what is wrong. Lion-O is great with other cats and kittens, as well as dogs and babies. He will need plenty of things to climb on and toys to keep him occupied because he gets bored very easily.

Panthro: DSH Black rings on Black with a white heart on her chest. She is a very gentle kitten that loves a night time snuggle and a tummy rub. She loves to sleep on her back and hang her little tongue out! She loves to play peek-a-boo and is great with other cats and kittens as well as dogs and babies.

Cheetara: DSH Grey Tabby with rings and leopard spots! Cheetara has really come around from being a shy little girl to having an outgoing personality. She loves to greet you at the door any door really and desires a good rub down! She is content with laying at your feet or up on your shoulders for a nighttime cuddle. She is great with other cats and kittens as well as dogs and babies.

Thundera: DSH Torbie. She is the smallest of the Thundercats but has the biggest personality! She doesn't want anyone thinking that just because she is little she can't do the same things that her brothers and sisters can do. Actually it is just the opposite! She is the first to accomplish a feat and she gets a look of proudness on her face! She loves to sleep under the bed or in a cubbie hole, but in the morning she will come running to greet you and say hello. This doesn't mean that she is a morning cat because she values her beauty sleep! She is great with other cats and kittens as well as babies. She doesn't care to much for the dogs right now but is coming around quickly.

Kano: DMH Tabby. He is the fluffiest and the largest of the of the Thundercats and has a sweet personality. He goes with the flow and is really the cool cat of the bunch. Though he is meek, he loves to play and roll around with toys. He'll come up for some love and a snuggle, but then he wants to get down and curl up in a ball to fall asleep. This little guy loves to sunbathe in the window. He is great with other cats and kittens as well as dogs and babies.

Dog lovers can help support our Alter an Alley Cat program

Prefer dogs over cats?  Well, we won't hold that against you (dogs need homes too) and you can buy goodies for your dogs and support Alley Cats and Angels at the same time!

Place an order at www.usbones.com, select Alley Cats and Angels, NC as the rewards fundraising partner & US Bones will donate 25% of the order value to us. This is a great way to spoil your dog or cat and help Alley Cats and Angels spay/neuter cats whose caregivers/owners cannot afford the cost of spay/neuter. 

All proceeds from US Bones will go to our Alter an Alley Cat program.